Cigarette box



Jan. 3', 195o C. BLOCK CIGARETTE BOX Filed Oct. 25, 1947 INVENToR. EUR T15 EL UCK l ATToRNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE BX Curtis Block, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application October`25, 1947', Serial No. 782,201

9 Claims. (Cl. 312;'77)

'This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensing devices and has partie; ular relation to a cigarette box adapted to receive va number of cigarettes and on proper manipulation to dispense or expose the cigarettes one at a time.

An object of the invention is to provide a cigarette box including a base, a cigarette receptacle slidable on the base from end to end thereof, a rocker element in the base and at its respective ends provided with supports each adapted toreceive a cigarette, and means whereby when the receptacle is at one end of the base a cigarette is deposited on a support and as the receptacle is moved to the other end of the base the element is rocked to raise said support andexpose the cigarette for ready removal from thel box.

Another object is to provide a cigarette b ox including an elongated base having a slot-like opening adjacent each end, a pair of supports movable inwardly and outwardly through the respective openings, a receptacle slidable on the base from end to end thereof, and means wheref by as the receptacle is moved to one end of the base the receptacle deposits a cigarette in the support at said end of the base and causes the support at the other end of the Ibase to move outwardly through the slot at said end of the'ba'se.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the ini vention is shown. However, it is to be under; stood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the' drawing:

Fig. l is an isometric view of the cigarette box of the invention prior to covering of the same by leather or other ornamental means;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sec tional View through the box of Fig. 1, the receptacle thereof being in an intermediate position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the receptacle in an end or dispensing position; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken as along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. n

Referring in detail to ther drawing, the ime proved cigarette box is shown as'including broad- 1y a hollow elongated base generally designated 2. base lllincludes a bottom Wall I2, side walls 'I3 and I4; ends I5 and I6 and a top wall Il stopping short of each of the ends whereby slots or openings I8 land I9 are formed immediately ins waidly of the respective ends and extending transversely of the base between the side walls' I3 and |4 thereof.

Within the base is a rocker element 2o having a pivot point 2| midway its ends and at the respecti've sides of said pivot point comprising arms ZZYand 2k3 extending substantially to the inner Sides ofthe ends I5 and I6 of the base. Trough` like supports 24 and 25 are supported from the outer or remote ends of the respective ar'rns`22 andv 23'fin alignmentv with the slots I8 and I 5 respectively and are adapted to move inwardly and outwardly through said slots as the rockery element 20 is rocked, all as will later be described' irl-detail.- y

Stop blocksrZI and 2'I may be provided under the outer endsof the respective arms 22v and 23 of YVthe rocker element to limit rocking movement 'of 'the latter; In' the top wall l1 of the base toward the respective ends thereof, openings 28 and 29.1are provided and mounted on the upper ends of the'rocker element arms 22 and 23 are knobs or knob-like portions 30 and 3| movable inwardly and outwardly through the openings 28'ai1d 29,'Iespectiv'ely.

Longitudinall'y extending ways or guideways 32 and v.i3-are provided in the inner sides of the side walls I3 and I4 adjacent the upper edges of the latter and the receptacle is mounted on the top wallv |'I`of the base and provided with a pair of laterally extending flanges 34 and 35 at its lower side edges. These flanges are disposed in the ways' 32 and 33 whereby the cigarette receptacle is mounted for sliding movement longi-l tudinally of the base I0.

In addition to the flanges 34 and 35, receptacle includes side walls 36 and 31, end walls 38 and 1.39; a top wall 40 and a bottom wall or member 4|. Wall-4I is secured to the side Walls 36 and 31 and is centrally thickened so that from a* point approximately midway between the end walls 33v and 39', its upper surfaces 42 and 43 in cline'voutwardly and downwardly. However, this bottom wall 42 stops short of the end walls 38 and 39 whereby'v discharge openings 44 and 45 are provided between the extreme edges of the bottom wall 4| and the respective end walls 38 and 39. A vertical element 45 which is or may be rintegralwith the bottom 4l) provides for the further dividing of the interior of the receptacle I I intoa pair of compartments.

Through the upper or top wall 40, there is an opening 41 extending substantially completely across the receptacle and between the side walls 36 and 31 thereof. When the present cigarette box is used, this opening 41 is closed as by an ash receptacle 48 tting into the opening, but such receptacle is, of course, easily slipped out of place for emptying and further is easily slipped out of place to permit of replacing a supply of cigarettes in the receptacle. In the present instance, the location of cigarettes within the receptacle is suggested by the broken lines at 49. If desired, a humidifying means (not shown) may be secured to the underside of the ash tray 48.

It is noted that the end walls I and I6 of the base are in the form of segments providing curved end surfaces and that the end walls 38 and.39 blend with the top wall`40 in the matter of the receptacle II. While a covering is not shown in the drawing, since it would form no part of a mechanical patent, it is planned that the present device be covered with leather or other Inaterial whereby to provide a cigarette -box of neat and attractive appearance. Such box could be used on a desk, library table or the like and be of attractive appearance as well as useful for its intended purpose.

As to the use of the present cigarette box, the filling of the receptacle II through the opening 41 when the ash tray 48 is removed has been described. Normally, the receptacle II would be positioned approximately midway the ends lof the base as suggested in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 2, it is noted that a cigarette is suggested by the broken lines 50 as disposed within the support 25. A person wishing to obtain a cigarette may, of course, simply lift it out of the support in Fig. 2 but generally the idea is that the receptacle I I will be shifted toward the left in Fig. 2 as to the position of Fig. 3. There it will be noted that the bottom 4I of the receptacle has engaged the means or knob 30 and depressed the same, tilting the rocker element 20 so as to move the support 25 up through the slot I9 and position the cigarette 50 for convenient removal.

In the meantime, a cigarette from the re ceptacle has dropped through the discharge opening 44 onto the support 24 but such cigarette is yet covered by the receptacle. The receptacle may be left in this position. Then the next time a cigarette is desired, the receptacle is moved to an extreme right hand position and during such movement engages knob 3| rocking the element 20 so as to move the support 24 out through the slot I8 to dispose a second cigarette for convenient removal.

As the movement of the receptacle is continued toward the right, when it reaches its extreme position a cigarette is dropped through the discharge opening 45 onto the support 25. From this, it will be seen that simply by alternately shifting the receptacle II first to one end and then to the other end of the base, cigarettes are deposited through the discharge openings 44 and 45 of the receptacle, first in the support 24 and then in the support 25 and such supports are alternately shifted by the rocker element to projected and withdrawn positions.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a cigarette box, an elongated hollow base including side and end walls and a top wall, -said top wall stopping short of each of said end walls whereby slots are formed extending across the Vbase, a support on each end portion of said element and said supports located to move inwardly `and outwardly through said slots as said element is rocked, said supports adapted to receive cigarettes discharged through the respective ends of the base, and spaced means on said rocker element and adapted to be engaged and depressed by the receptacle to shift rst one and then the other of said supports through its slot as said receptacle is slid first to one and then to the other end of said base.

2. In a cigarette box, a cigarette receptacle slidable on said base from end to end thereof, a rocker element in said base, supports on the respective ends of said element and each adapted to receive and support a cigarette, said base having a slot-like opening through its upper side in alignment with said supports, and means whereby when said receptacle is at one end of said base a cigarette from the receptacle is on the support aligned with the slot-like opening at said end of the base and as the receptacle is moved to the other end of the base the rocker element is rocked to raise the support having the deposited cigarette and expose the latter for ready removal from the box.

3. In a cigarette box, an elongated base having a slot-like opening adjacent each end, a pair of supports movable inwardly and outwardly through the respective slots, a receptacle slidable on the base from end to end thereof, and means whereby as the receptacle is moved to either end of the base the receptacle deposits a cigarette in the support at said end of the base and causes the support at the other end of the base to move outwardly through the slot at said other endof the base.

4. In a cigarette box, an elongated base having a slot-like opening adjacent each end, a pair of supports associated one with each of said slots, a rocker element in said base, means whereby as said element is rocked said supports are moved in alternate order outwardly and. inwardly through the respective slots, a receptacle slidable on the base from end to end thereof and adapted when moved to either end of the base to deposit a cigarette on the support adjacent that end, and means whereby sliding movement of said receptacle results in rocking of said element.

5. In a cigarette box, an elongated base having a slot-like opening adjacent each end, a pair of supports associated one with each of said slots, a rocker element in said base, means whereby as said element is rocked said supports are moved in alternate order outwardly and inwardly through the respective slots, a receptacle slidable on the base from end to end thereof and adapted when moved to either end of the base to deposit a cigarette on the support adjacent that end, a knob on said element toward each of its ends, said knobs adapted to be alternately engaged and depressed by said receptacle as it is moved back and forth between the ends of the base to rock said element and cause movements of said supports alternately outwardly through said slots.

6. In a cigarette box, an elongated hollow base including side and end walls and a top wall, saidv top wall stopping short of each of said end walls whereby slots are formed extending across the base at each end of said top wall, a cigarette receptacle on said top wall, means mounting said receptacle for sliding movement longitudinally of said wall, said receptacle having a discharge opening toward each end of the receptacle, said receptacle slidable on said base from end to end thereof to dispose rst one discharge opening over the slot at one end of the top wall and then its other discharge opening over the slot at the other end of said top wall, a rocker element in said base, a support on each end portion of said element and said supports located to move inwardly and outwardly through said slots as said element is rocked, said supports adapted to receive cigarettes discharged through the respective discharge openings of said receptacle when the receptacle is at the respective ends of the base, and means whereby sliding movement of said receptacle results in rocking of said element.

7 In a cigarette box, an elongated hollow base including side and end walls and a top wall, said top wall stopping short of each of said end walls whereby slots are formed extending across the base at each end of said top wall, a cigarette receptacle on said top wall, means mounting said receptacle for sliding movement longitudinally of said wall, said receptacle having a discharge opening toward each end of the receptacle, said receptacle slidable on said base from end to end thereof to dispose rst one discharge opening over the slot at one end of the top wall and then its other discharge opening over the slot at the other end of said top wall, a rocker element in said base, a support on each end portion of said element and said supports located to move inwardly and outwardly through said slots as said element is rocked, said supports adapted to receive cigarette discharged through the respective discharge openings of said receptacle when the receptacle is at the respective ends of the base, spaced knobs on said rocker element and adapted both to extend upwardly through openings in said top wall inwardly of the ends thereof when said rocker element is balanced, and said knobs adapted to be engaged and depressed by the receptacle to shift first one and thenrthe other of said supports through its slot as said receptacle is shifted first to one end and then to the other of said base. j'y

8. In a cigarette box, an elongated hollow base including side and end walls and a top wall, said top wall stopping short of each of said end walls whereby slots are formed extending across the base at each end of said top wall, a cigarette receptacle on said top wall, said base having guideways therein and said receptacle having flanges in said guideways whereby the receptacle is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of said wall, said receptacle having a discharge opening toward each end of the receptacle, said receptacle slidable on said base from end to end thereof to dispose rst one discharge opening over the slot at one end of the top wall and then its other discharge opening over the slot at the other end of said top wall, a rocker element in said base, a support on each end portion of said element and said supports located to move inwardly and outwardly through said slots as said element is rocked, said supports adapted to receive cigarette discharged through the respective discharge openings of said receptacle when the receptacle is at the respective ends of the base, and spaced knobs on said rocker element and adapted to be engaged and depressed by the receptacle to shift rst one and then the other of said supports through its slot as said receptacle is slid rst to one end and then to the other of said base.

9. In a cigarette box, an elongated base having a slot-like opening adjacent each end, a pair of supports associated one with each of said slots, a rocker element in said base, means whereby as said element is rocked said supports are moved in alternate order outwardly and inwardly through the respective slots, a receptacle slidable on the base from end to end thereof and adapted when moved to either end of the base to deposit a cigarette on the support adjacent that end, means whereby sliding movement of said receptacle results in rocking of said element, and means limiting rocking movement of said element to a very short arc whereby to maintain said supports relatively close to and substantially aligned with said slots in all positions of said element.

CURTIS BLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,678,281 Cole July 24, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,004 Great Britain of 1906 

